Photo Coverage: Pirate Queen Press Rehearsal

The new Boublil and Schonberg musical The Pirate Queen, starring Stephanie J. Block as the swashbuckling title character, will begin previews at the Hilton Theatre on Broadway beginning March 6, 2007 for an opening night on April 5th. The cast recently took part in a press and performance preview.

The Pirate Queen combines classic storytelling with a sweeping score and joyous dancing to celebrate the real-life story of legendary Irish Chieftain Grace O'Malley: a compelling, inspiring heroine who led an extraordinary life as a pirate, chieftain, lover and mother in 16th Century Ireland. To protect her people and save her one true love, O'Malley must confront the one woman more powerful than her…her fierce rival, Queen Elizabeth I of England.

The show, was written by: Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg, and commissioned and produced by Moya Doherty and John McColgan, the producers of Riverdance. The new musical is directed by Tony® Award-winner Frank Galati with musical staging by Graciela Daniele.

The creative team also includes John Dempsey (Witches of Eastwick) who has co-written the lyrics; Richard Maltby, Jr., (Miss Saigon, co-lyricist; Ain't Misbehavin', conceived/direction) will work with the writing team on book and lyrics. Jul Ian Kelly, orchestrator, vocal arranger and musical supervisor and director; three-time Tony® Award-winner Eugene Lee (Wicked), who sets the scene from the deck of the ship which Grace captains, to the court of Queen Elizabeth I where the two remarkable women once met; two-time Tony® Award-winner Martin Pakledinaz (Kiss Me, Kate) designing the costumes; four-time Tony® nominee Kenneth Posner (Wicked) creating the lighting design; Jonathan Deans (Ragtime) creating the sound design. Carol Leavy Joyce (Irish Dance Choreographer), J. Steven White (Fight Director), Paul Rubin (Aerial design), Paul Huntley (Wig design), Angelina Avallone (Make-up design), Howard Werner (Projection design), Greg Meeh (Special Effects), Tara Young (Associate Director), Tara Rubin Casting (Casting), Rachel Bress (Associate Choreographer), Peter Lamb (Production Manager) with additional choreography by Mark Dendy. Frank Scardino, Theatre Production Group LLC is the General Manager. Edgar Dobie is the Executive Produc